Long live Dr Mahathir, says Zuraida

(The Star) – Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should finish a full term in office, says Zuraida Kamaruddin.

“For the sake of the country, if needs be for him to be there for a full term, I would welcome him, and I pray that – long live Dr Mahathir, for that matter,” said the PKR vice-president.

Zuraida, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister, said that it would require a full term or five years for the country to stabilise and for Dr Mahathir to set the right foundation for the government to administer the country.

“So, it’s easier to hand over power when the system and framework is there,” said Zuraida when speaking to reporters after launching the Little River Festival 2019 at Taman Melawati on Saturday (Aug 3).

She said that party members cannot be selfish and must put the nation’s priorities first.

“If every party member is mature, they will be able to figure out which is more important – the development of the nation, the development of an individual or the development of a party,” said Zuraida.

A consensus exists between the four Pakatan Harapan parties – PKR, DAP, Parti Amanah Negara and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia – that Dr Mahathir would hand over the reins to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after holding office for two years.

On this, Zuraida urged the media to not bother Dr Mahathir about the hand-over of power and the sex video scandal which made headlines last month.

“He has so many things to think about, and you are all occupying his time and giving him mental stress about these issues,” she said.

Asked about a meeting between Opposition politicians and Dr Mahathir on Tuesday (July 30) to ask him to stay for a full term, Zuraida said she was not present at the meeting.

She was responding to a report by The Star, which said that a high-ranking Pakatan leader, who is also a Cabinet minister, was said to be present in the meeting after being called by Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir has previously said that he will step down once the country is stable and is on firmer ground.

“It may be two years, it may be three years. I don’t know but we are working on that,” Dr Mahathir was quoted saying.